Developing a Functional Communication Assessment for In-patients with
Communication Disability

McCooey-O’Halloran, Robyn and Worrall, Linda and Code, Chris and Hickson, Louise
Developing a Functional Communication Assessment for In-patients with
Communication Disability. In Clinical Aphasiology Conference: Clinical Aphasiology Conference (2004 : 34th : Park City, UT : May 2004) / : (2004).

Abstract

Speech- language pathologists working in acute hospitals may be able to enhance patient
health care by assisting patients to communicate their everyday needs in hospital. This
paper describes the development of a functional communication measure specifically
designed for in-patients with communication disability. The Inpatient Functional
Communication Interview (IFCI) was developed in three stages: a list of communication
situations applicable to the acute hospital setting was identified, criteria were applied to
these communication situations using the Multiple Attribute Utility Technique, and a
preliminary investigation into the reliability of the IFCI was conducted which indicated
that the IFCI was a reliable measure.